Space News Update- August 1, 2011 -

In the News

Story 1: JUNO Orbiter Mated to Mightiest Atlas rocket for Aug. 5 Blastoff to Jupiter

Story 2:Wave power key to Sun's hot corona

Story 3: 'Red Dragon' Mission Mulled as Cheap Search for Mars Life

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The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

Space CalendarNASA-TV Highlights

Food for ThoughtSpace Image of the Week

JUNO Orbiter Mated to Mightiest Atlas rocket for Aug. 5 Blastoff to

Jupiter

Wave power key to Sun's hot corona

'Red Dragon' Mission Mulled as Cheap Search for Mars Life

The Night SkyMonday, August 1 · As August begins, bright Vega crosses nearest the zenith around 11:00 p.m., depending on where you're located east-west in your time zone. How accurately can you time when this event happens for you? Vega goes exactly through the zenith if you're at latitude 30° north.  Tuesday, August 2 · Before the waxing Moon starts lighting the evening sky in a few days, try hunting faint galaxies on the arched back of Draco using Ken Hewitt-White's "Going Deep" article and charts in the August Sky & Telescope, page 62.  Wednesday, August 3 · The waxing crescent Moon is below Saturn at dusk, as shown above.

Thursday, August 4 · This evening the Moon is below Spica at nightfall, as shown above.

Friday, August 5 · The Moon lines up left of Spica and Saturn at dusk. · Mars, low in the east-northeast just before the first light of dawn, is passing less than 1° south (lower right) of the star cluster M35 in Gemini on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Use binoculars or a telescope.

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

For Denver:

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATIONMAX ELEV

APPROACH DEPARTURE

DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Tue Aug 02/03:27 AM 1 21 21 above NNW 16 above N

ISS Wed Aug 03/04:04 AM 2 11 10 above NNW 10 above N

ISS Thu Aug 04/03:07 AM < 1 15 15 above N 12 above N

ISS Fri Aug 05/03:45 AM < 1 10 10 above N 10 above N

ISS Fri Aug 05/05:21 AM 2 12 10 above NNW 12 above NNE

NASA-TV HighlightsAugust 1, Monday8:15 - 8:35 a.m. - ISS Expedition 28 In-Flight Event with the Mainichi National Newspaper for JAXA 12 p.m. - NASA Science News Conference - Dawn Images of the Vesta Asteroid

August 3, Wednesday10 a.m. - ISS Expedition 28 Russian Spacewalk Coverage (spacewalk begins 10:30 a.m. EDT.) - JSC (Public, HD and Media Channels - *Coverage of the Spacewalk on the Media Channel ends at 12:55 p.m.)1 p.m. - Juno Mission Prelaunch News Conference - KSC (Media and Education Channels)

August 4, Thursday10 a.m. - STS-134 Crew Mission Presentation – HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)10:30 a.m. - Tweet-Up for Juno Mission – KSC (Education Channel)1 p.m. - Replay of Juno Tweet-Up – HQ (Public, HD and Education Channels)2 p.m. - Replay of STS-134 Crew Mission Presentation – HQ (All Channels)

August 5, Friday7:25 - 7:45 a.m. - ISS Expedition 28 In-Flight Interviews with ABC Radio Network and WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL - JSC (Public, HD and Media Channels)9 a.m. - Juno Launch Coverage (the launch window is from 11:34 a.m. to 12:33 p.m. Launch coverage concludes after spacecraft separation from the Atlas V has occurred 53 minutes-49 seconds after launch) - KSC (All Channels)

Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

Space Calendar· Aug 01 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of Helene, Titan, Telesto, Methone & Rhea · Aug 01 - Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower Peak · Aug 01 - Comet 48P/Johnson Closest Approach To Earth (1.325 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 2 Pallas At Opposition (9.5 Magnitude) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 1103 Sequoia Closest Approach To Earth (0.815 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 2063 Bacchus Closest Approach To Earth (0.902 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 4 Vesta Closest Approach To Earth (1.227 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 17059 Elvis Closest Approach To Earth (1.342 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 7707 Yes Closest Approach To Earth (1.673 AU) · Aug 01 - Asteroid 310 Margarita Closest Approach To Earth (1.874 AU) · Aug 03 - Astra 1N/ B-Sat 3C (JC-Sat 110R) Ariane 5 Launch · Aug 03 - Comet 27P/Crommelin Perihelion (0.748 AU) · Aug 03 - Asteroid 10051 Albee Closest Approach To Earth (1.315 AU) · Aug 04 - Asteroid 88292 Bora-Bora Closest Approach To Earth (0.673 AU) · Aug 04 - Asteroid 2991 Bilbo Closest Approach To Earth (0.838 AU) · Aug 04 - Asteroid 1704 Wachmann Closest Approach To Earth (1.336 AU) · Aug 04 - Asteroid 163800 Richardnorton Closest Approach To Earth (1.477 AU) · Aug 04-05 - Juno Tweetup · Aug 05 - Juno Atlas 5 Launch · Aug 05 - Asteroid 4 Vesta At Opposition (5.6 Magnitude) · Aug 05 - Asteroid 96193 Edmonton Closest Approach To Earth (1.524 AU) · Aug 05 - Asteroid 6758 Jesseowens Closest Approach To Earth (1.570 AU) · Aug 05 - Asteroid 3808 Tempel Closest Approach To Earth (1.583 AU) · Aug 05-07 - Vesta Fiesta

JPL Space Calendar

Food for ThoughtRussia Backtracks on Plan to Sink Space

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Space Image of the Week